(AllHipHop News) Several rappers – like Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, and DaBaby – released deluxe versions of their 2020 projects over the last nine months which helped bring in more global streams for the albums. Two other artists decided to revisit LPs from at least two years ago by increasing the number of songs on those respective bodies of work.
Lil Wayne dropped Tha Carter V deluxe on Friday. The Young Money spitter added new tracks to the album that originally came out in 2018. On Thursday, Weezy tweeted, “To celebrate the 2 year anniversary of C5 and show love to the dopest and most loyal fans EVER I’m adding 10 songs that didn’t make the original album! Tonight at 12 am EST let’s celebrate!!!”
My sh*t drop TONIGHT!!!!
To celebrate the 2 year anniversary of C5 and show love to the dopest and most loyal fans EVER I’m adding 10 songs that didn’t make the original album! Tonight at 12am EST let’s celebrate!!! 🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾#IAintShitWithoutYou#Carter5Deluxepic.twitter.com/VW1f2pDaZa
Bryson Tiller also let loose a repackaged version of his 2015 project. On September 22, he tweeted, “Before we get into my new album, I wanna celebrate with this special edition of my debut album, Trapsoul. Featuring a few songs that didn’t quite make the cut. Y’all asked for these on All Platforms and they’ll finally be yours this Friday. Thank you!”
Trapsoul(Deluxe) arrived after the Kentucky-raised singer put out the new singles “Inhale” and “Always Forever” earlier this month. Tiller also took time out last night to post about the news that the three police officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s death were not charged with murder for shooting the 26-year-old EMT in her own apartment. Taylor lived in Tiller’s hometown of Louisville.
before we get into my new album, I wanna celebrate with this special edition of my debut album, Trapsoul. Featuring a few songs that didn’t quite make the cut. Y’all asked for these on All Platforms and they’ll finally be yours this Friday. thank you! pic.twitter.com/8MJ5rC5jYB
(AllHipHop News) Earlier this week, Travis Scott informed his 9.2 million Twitter followers and his 33.1 million Instagram followers that he had new music on the way very soon. The audio and video for “Franchise” featuring Young Thug and M.I.A. landed on Friday morning.
Scott spoke about the “Franchise” single with Zane Lowe for Apple Music’s New Music Daily. Specifically, the Texan discussed collaborating with M.I.A., the London-born performer best known in the United States for the 3x-Platinum hit “Paper Planes” off 2007’s Kala album.
“She reached out to me for something for her album and we tracked it like in London. She’s just one of my favorite artists as humans. So it was just amazing, just chopping it up, and spending some time,” said Scott. “When I finished the song, I couldn’t think of nobody else that could probably body this sht. Body this sht like as hard as like anyone else, any other rapper, any other artists.”
He added, “And just that presence, man. We ain’t felt this presence in a long time. I’m just trying to get this gig sh*t right man. We got to get better, right? Like all of this, the energy man, music, beats, raps, God! Everything, she’s the illest of all time.”
The conversation with Lowe also included Travis Scott talking about “Sicko Mode.” His first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart featured vocals by Drake, Swae Lee, and the late Big Hawk. The 2018 track earned Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
“I would say like the sonics of what are we probably created back for like a ‘Sicko Mode’ was something I was endeared to. When I tapped into that range where I felt like the beat should be, or beat should be out, I was like, ‘Man, you created something that can still be pushed forward too.’ I’m not even done with that sound. Like we’re levitating that sound. That sound is just like, you know me, everything’s just about a sonic presence, just maintaining the sonic presence and pushing that sonic,” stated Scott.
(AllHipHop News) Megan Thee Stallion’s stellar professional run in 2020 will continue on October 3 when the rapstress gives her first performance on Saturday Night Live. The long-running NBC program is returning for its 46th season.
Comedic legend Chris Rock will be anchoring the upcoming SNL premiere episode. The 55-year-old Fargo actor is returning to the late-night sketch comedy show that helped launch his career in the early 1990s. This will be Rock’s third appearance as an SNL host.
Megan scored two #1 records on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart this year. The Houston native earned her first Number One when “Savage” featuring Beyoncé hit the top spot in May. Her “WAP” collaboration with Cardi B currently leads the Hot 100 for the fourth non-consecutive time. “WAP” is also #1 on Billboard‘s Global 200 rankings of the most popular songs in the world.
Additionally, Megan Thee Stallion made Time‘s 100 Most Influential People list for 2020. The magazine selected the 25-year-old recording artist to be featured on one of its eight covers for the Time 100. She joined The Weeknd, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Anthony Fauci, Amy O’Sullivan, Sundar Pichai, Tsai Ing-wen, and Black Lives Matter founders Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi.
(AllHipHop News) Many people are upset that Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove were not charged for murdering 26-year-old African-American Breonna Taylor. When news broke that a grand jury only indicted Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into the wall of Taylor’s Caucasian neighbors, protests broke out across the country.
Taylor was shot to death in her Louisville, Kentucky home after the three law enforcement officers entered her apartment with a no-knock warrant. The cops were looking for Taylor’s ex-boyfriend who was actually already in police custody at the time of the shooting.
Her current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired one shot at the officers because he believed they were intruders. The cops fired over 20 shots back at the couple. Taylor was shot five times. Her death was reportedly determined to be a homicide in an autopsy.
There have been a lot of critiques on how Kentucky’s Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron handled the Breonna Taylor case. The investigation into the officers took six months, and some legal experts are questioning if Cameron actually presented any evidence to the grand jury that could have led to more charges.
For example, did any of the witnesses that said they did not hear the officers announce themselves before entering the apartment testify before the grand jury? Did Kenneth Walker testify before the grand jury? Did Cameron tell the grand jury that the officers lied on an incident report by stating that there was no forced entry into the apartment and that no one was injured during the botched raid?
Rihanna used her social media accounts to call out Cameron. On Thursday night, the entertainment megastar tweeted, “I’m just gon’ let this sink in to your hollow skull @DanielCameronAG.” The tweet included a photo of someone holding a sign that read, “A cop shot a Black woman and was only charged for the shots [that] missed.”
As of press time, Rihanna’s tweet has amassed more than 53,000 retweets and 200,000 likes. Over on Instagram, the Fenty Beauty founder’s same post mentioning Daniel Cameron collected more than 1 million likes on the platform.
(AllHipHop News) Daystar “Tory Lanez” Peterson lit the internet on fire overnight. After teasing on Twitter that he would address the highly-publicized July 12 shooting in California involving Megan Thee Stallion, Lanez dropped a surprise project titled Daystar.
To my fans … I’m sorry for my silence …. but respectfully .. I got time today …… 9 PM PST .
The 17-track effort includes Lanez claiming Megan and her team were trying to frame him for the alleged violent incident that took place following a party at Kylie Jenner’s house. He also took direct shots at other people on the song “Sorry But I Had To…” Rapper/reality show star DreamDoll and Los Angeles Lakers player J.R. Smith caught strays.
On “Sorry But I Had To…” Lanez raps:
J.R. Smith, it’s the pot that p###
And you the last cat that should talk about some shots that hit
‘Cause your performance and percentage, player
Rolling, riding benches, n*gga, I’m from the trenches, n*gga
You the type to buy a chick a eighty and you still won’t get a inch up in her…
DreamDoll responded to Lanez in The Shade Room‘s comment section by referring to her well-received 2019 diss track “On Ya Head” where she called out Lanez for mentioning her in his beef with Don Q. On Instagram, she wrote, “He asking for [an] ON YOUR HEAD PART 2.”
The Love & Hip Hop: New York alumna also took to Twitter to add another statement about the matter. Dreamdoll posted, “Y’all be really expecting mf to just sit back and not respond when my buttons be constantly poked. I really [be] minding my mf business. TF.”
Y’all be really expecting mf to just sit back and not respond when my buttons be constantly poked. I reallly he minding my mf business. TF
In addition, J.R. Smith answered the Canadian performer’s lyrics on Daystar. The NBA player used his Instagram account to offer a reaction to what Lanez had to say about him. Smith posted on his IG Story, “I got time today too [five Rolling On The Floor Laughing emojis] bout to get real [four Hot Pepper emojis].”
Lanez also used “Sorry But I Had To…” to share his thoughts on people that have criticized him like Asian Doll, JoJo, Bun B, Chance The Rapper, and Masika Kalysha. Plus, the 28-year-old recording artist namedropped Kylie Jenner, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Chris Brown on the record.
UPDATE:
J.R. Smith returned to Instagram Stories this morning to post more comments about Tory Lanez. The NBA champion wrote, “He not even 30 stay in ya place lil ass boy… Bust ya gun at a female you all types of [clown].
SuperDopeQ is here to prove he can rap, just as much as he kills it in the fashion world. Getting his start as a wardrobe stylist working with everyone from The Migos to Keke Palmer to Young Dolph, the Milwaukee native is best known for his high-fashion, streetwear style — with the ability to drip from miles away. Women Crush Wednesdays, Man Crush Mondays, he’s styled all of them.
When it comes to queer entertainers, Q is stepping up to the plate. With his most recent release titled “Baller Alert,” he reminds the masses that no matter your situation, don’t ever forget to celebrate life. This includes treating yourself and celebrating the hard work you’ve put in, up until this point.
From working as a personal assistant to the CEO of Black Ink Crew to landing a recurring role on the show, Q has a contagious energy and personality that fans can’t get enough of. While he balances the show, styling, running two businesses (a boutique back home in Milwaukee and a unisex fragrance line called Carmae), and a personal life, he’s focused on the music now more than ever.
AllHipHop caught up with SuperDope Q via Instagram Live, who was posted in his car in Atlanta. Read below as we discuss how he got his name, working with the CEO of Black Ink Crew, his new single “Baller Alert,” and more!
AllHipHop: How’d you get the name SuperDope Q?
SuperDopeQ: I came up with that because I’d always say “this is super dope.” I yell that all the time. One day my friends started saying “SuperDope Q… SuperDope Q!” I’m like okay, it’s lit. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Being from Milwaukee, what was the household like growing up?
SuperDopeQ: Being from Milwaukee was cool. I come from a poverty city, but we’re a lit city, Milwaukee’s lit. It was small, that’s pretty much it. People ask “is black people from Milwaukee? I’m like yeah, me! We’re black.
AllHipHop: How was it styling for The Migos?
SuperDopeQ: My cousin is Jacob Latimore. When I first started off, I was styling in Texas. I thought “it’s slow here, I’m going to Atlanta.” I went to Atlanta, he lived there. I did my first gig for him out in Atlanta, then Quality Control’s P called me to do the Migos and this girl Malina, the PR. Offset was just getting out of jail, they called me. I came. Once I styled them, I was outta there. In Atlanta, everyone was calling me back to back. I started with Young Dolph, Blac Youngsta called. Back to back, everybody’s calling my phone like “hey what you got?” Got a magazine cover on this day, photographers calling me.
AllHipHop: Have you always wanted to be a stylist?
SuperDopeQ: I really wanted to be an artist first. I started working with artists so I couldn’t come on as pushing my music on them. “This n*gga is here to style, and he’s over here pushing his music on us.” I don’t want to do that, let me wait till my turn when I can do me. Music cost money, I had no money to be doing no music, trying to drop albums. Selling 50 to 500 copies, I didn’t have time for that. I got a music background, my family. I’d always dress for my parents and be fly as f###, they always kept me fly. It was nothing., that’s why I was best dressed in the yearbook.
AllHipHop: That’s a memory you’ll have forever.
SuperDopeQ: That’s crazy. Who would ever thought I‘d be at the top, I’m in my yearbook lit. Excited about me being in the back as Best Dressed. My name’s on there, my picture… what?
AllHipHop: How did Ceaser Emanuel, the CEO of Black Ink, catch wind of you?
SuperDopeQ: I knew Ceaser 5 years ago. My homegirl Lala Milan introduced me to Caesar: “I need you to go over there and talk to Caesar.” She put me on “he’s the hottest stylist in the city, he styled Migos. You need to talk to him!” He got my information, met him at the shoot the next day. I style him, everybody says “Caesar looks good!” I’m changing images around here, call me an image consultant. He put me on TV last year. He knew I was trying to get a bigger platform for my career, my platform, my music. I was blessed to know him, appreciative of him. We’re in a pandemic, I’m working because of him. I’m still taken care of because of him. When I came to New York, he made sure I’m good. In the industry, it’s hard to find people you connect with, ready to share the money with you.
AllHipHop: “Baller Alert” out now, what do you want fans to get from this single?
SuperDopeQ: Feel-good music, music that makes you bop your head and turn up to. Back in the day vibes. I was always an old school music fan of the Murda Inc days, Ashanti and Ja Rule days. They were going hard, get that bread turning up with the #1 hits. That inspired me to get in there and went off the vibe of having a good time. It’s lifestyle music about what’s going on, it’s lit.
AllHipHop: What can we expect on the music side?
SuperDopeQ: Expect some more head bangers, expect to see me more around because this is the beginning. I’m working on features right now. Expect more turn up music, hear me on the clubs and the radios. Me and my manager JB going up, my cousin Oobie’s on the track “Baller Alert.” I appreciate him getting on there, he’s starting off his rap career. It’s up from here, I’m ready.
AllHipHop: Who’s your Top 5 artists in rotation?
SuperDopeQ: Future, Drake, Flo Milli, DaBaby, Lil Baby.
(AllHipHop News) Did you think that Nick Cannon was gonna be out here getting his bag????
Then you must not know just how serious this hustler really is. The former Nickelodeon darling and Teen Nick Chairman is back on television as the returning host for the fourth season of Fox’s#### show, The Masked Singer.
Cannon returning to the show was not the only surprise, one of Hip-Hop’s most beloved figures was unveiled — almost topping the Lil Wayne surprise from last year.
At the end of the show, the character that received the least amount of votes was the Dragon.
When Dragon’s tenure on the show as a contestant came to an end, it was revealed that the start beneath the mask was Busta Rhymes. Busta performed a LL Cool J song, “Mama Said Knock You Out,” paying tribute to one of his idols.
The show has other celebrities guess who the performer that is rapping or singing in disguise actually is. Only two judges, Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger, knew that it was the former Leader of the New School emcee.
According to EW, he joined the cast because his family watches the show.
“Well, I wanted to get on the show because everything made sense, as far as the way the opportunity was presented — the professionalism of the production and the network, the incredible accommodations that they extended to us so that we can feel above and beyond comfortable in the process of the whole experience,” Busta noted. “And last, but not least, I’m a fan of the show. My kids, my peers, I literally have been talking about this show with [them]…It’s just a thing that is really resonating well with the people.”
Busta later broke down how powerful the actual costume made him feel.
The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on FOX.
(AllHipHop News) Rapper BandGang Jizzle P was murdered Tuesday night in front of his mother. The Detroit rapper, whose name was Aaron Mays, and an associate found themselves statistics in the city’s heartless gunplay-ridden streets, further fortifying why it was named the most dangerous municipalities in the US in 2017. The two were struck dead in a car, a Chrysler 300, around 9:15 p.m. as he was parked in a driveway on the 1700 block of Fielding.
His mother, Senekua Mays, was there to see her 25-year-old son take his last breath. She took to social media to share the horrible news, posting on Facebook: “MY SON GONE,” Mays added a broken heart emoji to punctuate her pain. “PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE & LET ME GRIEVE.”
She later wrote, “MY HEART DNT HURT… MY MF SOUL HURT”
In an interview with the local news station she said that while she is grieving, she promised her son that she would be “strong for him.”
Mays stated, “He don’t want me to cry, he don’t want me to mourn — and he don’t want to be on a T-shirt.”
Jizzle P had recently released a new album entitled, Eskimo Season 2. Many say he was on the cusp of breaking big on a national scale.
Fans took to Twitter to show their disbelief and remorse. RIP to the young king.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Tory Lanez has broken his silence after roughly 2 months of quiet. He was arrested for carrying concealed weapon and also accused of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in her foot.
Today, Thursday, September 24, the rapper apologize to fans for not speaking up faster. The move comes as odd since the rapper has professed there is more to the story then has been told by Megan Thee Stallion. “To my fans … I’m sorry for my silence …. but respectfully .. I got time today …… 9 PM PST .,” he posted on Twitter.
Last month, on Instagram live, Megan thee stallion revealed that Tory Lanez was the person that shot her and was out raged that his team suggested otherwise.
“Since y’all hoes so worried ’bout it,” Meg said on the livestream. “Yes, this n#### Tory shot me. You shot me. And you got your publicist and your people going to these blogs lying and s###. Stop lying. Why lie? I don’t understand. I tried to keep the situation off the internet, but you dragging it. You really f#####’ dragging it. Muthafuckas talkin’ ’bout I hit this n####. I never hit you. Muthafuckas was like, ‘Oh, she mad ’cause he was tryna f### with Kylie.’ No, I wasn’t. You dry shot me.”
Now Torri is going on Instagram live himself tonight to speak. What he plans to say is unknown. What is known is that Tori allegedly apologized for shooting her via text message, publish report said. He allegedly stated that he was intoxicated with alcohol.
By the way, Tip said he talked to Tory and he said something else. People’s eyebrows arched a bit.
“Listen, I don’t know, man. But, I spoke to him and he said the s### didn’t happen like that,” said Tip. “I said, ‘Well, you need to be saying something, bruh. How did it happen?’ And he said he couldn’t say nothing about how it did actually happen. I told him I understood that. I said, ‘Man, you can’t expect nobody to ignore the facts that are being presented if you don’t have any other conclusive facts that can overturn these. You got to say something, bruh.’ If you ain’t going to say nothing, you can’t expect nobody else to. I ain’t about to just shut up when you got facts out here that say it’s a woman been shot at the hands of another Black man within the culture. We’ve got to speak out on that. We’re the f### n***as if we don’t.”
(AllHipHop News) Days before Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron released the grand jury’s decision not to indict the three Louisville Metro Police Department officers directly connected and potentially involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, Sgt. Jon Mattingly’s wife wrote a letter detailing what life has been like over the last 163 days since the unfortunate incident for her family.
Mrs. Mattingly started her long missive addressing Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mom, “As a mother, I empathize with the pain her mother feels for losing a child. Her death is tragic, and that is something a mother should never have to go through.”
Mrs. Mattingly noted that her husband almost died from his wound from Kenneth Walker, Taylor’s boyfriend, who fired his legal firearm.
Walker had shot her husband because he and two of his colleagues performed a raid (that is now in question because the team received faulty information) and bursted into his girlfriend’s Springfield Drive apartment while they were asleep, alleging that he did not hear them announce themselves.
Walker who noted that he “would never knowingly shoot at a police officer,” believed that the cops were intruders coming into their dark apartment late in the night/early in the morning.
Jon Mattingly (Louisville Metro Police Department)
Mrs. Mattingly further shared that Walker shot her husband in such a manner that he almost bled to death, and was only saved because other officers applied a tourniquet. She revealed that her husband required a surgery that lasted over five hours and a blood transfusion in efforts to repair his femoral artery.
In addition to the trauma experienced from his shooting, she wrote about having to hide because some people who are Breonna Taylor’s supporters or sympathizers are radical and have threatened her family, including their son.
“Since all of this happened he has experienced night terrors and so much anxiety that he becomes physically sick,” she continued. “Our lives will never be the same and all because my husband was shot first while doing his job.”
LMPD Sgt. Jon Mattingly’s wife has posted to Facebook in defense of her husband.
Her husband was shot inside of Breonna Taylor's apartment during the shootout that ultimately ended the 26-year-old's life.
“He always puts others ahead of himself and his heart is in the right place,” she wrote. “He had always wanted to be a police officer so he could help people who could not protect themselves.”
Mrs. Mattingly’s hope was that her husband’s character would be redeemed by the grand jury’s decision. But her husband is not helping. Det. Mattingly had been under attack for an email he had sent to the force calling BLM protesters thugs.
“Some of these social justice groups who protest have said over and over again that they do not condone violence, and they are not considered thugs,” she said. “My husband was referring to the radical groups that have taken it upon themselves to be violent. To destroy other’s properties and businesses to get a point across is not getting your point across. It is THUGGERY.”
These acts in her opinion, are contrary to any work to promote unity between the police, whites, and Blacks.
Her letter was cute and defended her husband — please read the following excerpts from her husband’s email and what you think.
New: LMPD Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly (who is being investigated as part of Breonna Taylor’s case) sent an email to around 1,000 officers at 2am that calls protestors thugs, complains about the government enforcing civil rights violations, and claims this is "good versus evil” pic.twitter.com/VcuyPDP790
I’m not here to give you a Rah Rah you got this speech. I’m not here to tell you that you signed up to help this community and to keep your head up. I’m here to tell you I’m sorry you have to go through this. I’m sorry your families have to go through this. I’m sorry the Mayor, Amy Hess, and Chief Conrad failed all of us in epic proportions for their own gain and to cover their a####.
You DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position. The position that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse, and degrade you. Throw bricks, bottles, and urine on you and expect you to do nothing. It goes against EVERYTHING we were all taught in the academy.”
It further says, “It’s sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized.”
Mattingly even went at the FBI, who the public now knows identified who they believe actually killed Breonna Taylor. He said of the bureau, “aren’t cops and would p### their pants if they had to hold the line.”
Federal Buerau of Investigation, DOJ
Then noted in the email that to them, the FBI, “Your civil rights mean nothing, but the criminal has total autonomy.”
Mattingly even said, further pushing a self-righteous Blue narrative totally criminalizing both Walker and the deceased Taylor, This is not us against society, but it is good versus evil.”
I wish I were there with you leading the charge,” he wrote. “I’ll be praying for your safety. Remember, you are just a pawn in the mayor’s game. I’m proof they do not care about you or your family, and you are replaceable. Stay safe and do the right thing. YOU ARE LOVED AND SUPPORTED BY MOST OF THE COMMUNITY.”
The email letter was a pep talk to the patrol. The city had instituted a lockdown and curfew and they were preparing for civil unrest. Why? Because the sergeant knew that the decision to not indict him and his two colleagues for Taylor’s death would be released in the next few days. His wife’s letter — tried to clean up his digital faux pas.
(AllHipHop News) Tekashi 6ix9ine may have disappeared from the internet for now, but it appears he’s making use of his downtime.
6ix9ine, born Daniel Hernandez, just reached a confidential settlement with a blind man who sued him over the lack of access to his merchandising website.
Yony Sosa was trying to cop some merchandise from the Brooklyn rap star’s online store, but “multiple access barriers” prevented his fan from having the same experience as someone with sight.
(AllHipHop News) Kanye West has outlined his plan to turn the music industry upside down and help artists like Taylor Swift win back their master recordings, insisting record label bosses have to understand the current system is broken.
“The desired effect will only be achieved when every artist owns their masters,” Kanye wrote. “I’m Team ‘Free Artists.’ I’m committed to doing whatever is necessary so artists own their own copyrights.
“The response is awesome because everyone knows this is a broken system that needs to be fixed. Currently, artists take advances to make records and yet when they repay those advances the record company still owns the records.
“Imagine a bank lending you money to buy a house and then when you’ve repaid that mortgage, them telling you they still own it. (Music lawyer) Joel Katz showed up; (Hipgnosis Songs Fund founder) Merck Mercuriadis showed up; Steve Rifkind showed up. I’ve put together a group of advisors to get me the information I need to succeed on behalf of all artists.”
Asked how he plans to win back Swift’s masters from her former label Big Machine, West explained: “All artists need to be free and own their rights. Taylor Swift deserves that, just like everyone else. As I mentioned before, (label boss) Scooter Braun is a friend and we’ll be having that discussion.”
And he told Billboard the music industry’s biggest players need to accept they are still living in the past when it comes to artists’ contracts: “You only need to look back to the early days of the record companies and see how predatory they were,” he added.
“Old execs admit it. The contracts are almost the same now. The shape, the terminology… And yet, in that time we moved to a completely digital age. Has the attitude of the labels and the structure in which our music moves on our side changed to that degree? No, it has not. You’re locked in; once you’re locked in you can ask no questions… Insane,” said Kanye West.
(AllHipHop News) A trio of beachgoers, Peter Caliendo, Pauline Caliendo, and Manuel Alarcon, are suing Cardi B and her sister, Hennessy Carolina, and Hennessy’s partner Michelle Diaz.
Cardi and her sister are being sued for defamation calling the couple and their friend “racist MAGA supporters.”
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed they were having a peaceful day at the shore when Hennessy approached them angrily and began to spit, insult and threaten them because they were wearing a red Make America Great Again hat.
On the Bronx rapper’s side, she believed that her sister was being targeted for being an Afro-Hispanic gay couple.
The “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker tweeted a video of their argument as proof of their harassment. The plaintiffs claim that this video that was put on social media was edited, to make it look as if they were bigots.
Later Cardi posted another video with only audio showing Hennessy talking about how one of the plaintiffs told her to go back to her country.
Cardi’s little sis, who self-identifies as hot-headed, says that she and her girlfriend were originally targeted because they “saw us parking here and we were speaking Spanish and we’re mixed.”
Battle rap is an international sport. No longer is the verbal duel a contest held in New York barbershops or West Philly corners. It has transcended and evolved from what you saw Eminem get busy in the movie 8 Mile. Now, leagues are thriving in Russia, Australia, South Africa, and the Philippines.
And just as Drake, Canada’s favorite son, has dubbed the sport one of his favorite past times … King of The Dot (KOTD) has emerged as one of the top leagues to ever-present the artform to the world.
— King of the Dot – #Blackout8 – SEPT 30th / OCT 1st (@KingOfTheDot) September 19, 2020
To etch their name in the larger market, they have partnered with Twitch to bring battle rap (for free) to fans far and wide. Their first effort is called the 2020 Grand Prix 32-person elimination-style battle rap tournament, culminating with a whopping $50,000 as the grand prize. B
efore you dust it off as just another tournament, for this year there has been a lot of battle rap royal rumbles all over the world, this one plans to tap into the culture in a way that will maximize opportunities and regional pride across the entire hemisphere. OH S##T! This is gonna be big.
There will be four divisions, hosted by influencers that have proven themselves as experts in this arena. The first of the contest aired on Sunday, September 20th focusing on the West Coast.
The West Division of the competition held its battle in Los Angeles and was hosted by Lush One.
The competition was fierce as Dizaster went up against Frak, Madflex competed against the ever gifted The Saurus, Caustic and Aktive had an interesting match-up, and all eyes were on RX as she, a very fresh face to the sport, tangled with Saynt. This bracket of competition was a good start to what seems to be an exciting series, but it was not without scrutiny.
The first battle was RX vs. Saynt. RX has good bars but was not ready to go before a prepared Saynt (who showed no mercy on her because she was female). “I thought we were family. How you gonna try to body-shame me? That’s lame, b**ch. Talking about the pancakes but called me up trying to get the Bisquick!”
RX spat shaking the virtual room with her really clever bars, but Saynt was different.
The second battle of the night was between The Saurus and Madflex. Madflex showed up for his opponent, but The Saurus was extraordinary. Madflex had a great line, “s### just got darker than you thought like Jesus’ face,” but with each haymaker, Saurus answered him with a well crafted round. Great back and forth and very, very close.
missed most of the first round, but absolute fire from both for the remainder that I caught…salute to Saurus and Flex for a super competitive match, can't be mad at the decision, but no losers in that one #KOTDGRANDPRIX
— BattleRapStats: bars.battlerapstats.com (@BattleRapStats) September 20, 2020
Aktive pulls off the upset vs Caustic and wins a 3-2 decision split decision to advance to the second round of the 🏆🏁#KOTDGRANDPRIX 🏁🏆 pic.twitter.com/tNgdFb9uY3
The most controversial battle of the night was the Dizaster and the Frak battle. The consensus was that Frak won and that Dizaster should not have advanced. Many had Diz with the first round and the last two going to Frak.
While fans felt both of the rappers shared lyrical ability that was out of this world, there was something very unsettling about Diz’ vile, unnecessarily bullyish, and homophobic performance. It was weird and seemed out of context. The culture was unhappy, so much battle rap media outlet like Battle Rap Stats changed their names to “Frak Stats.”
— BattleRapStats: bars.battlerapstats.com (@BattleRapStats) September 20, 2020
In a CRAZY battle that saw a controversial decision where the fan vote had Frak winning, the live judges had Dizaster moving on to the 2nd round of the KOTD Grand Prix. pic.twitter.com/tSXIsMNTBi
Battle rapper and blogger Jimz called for fans to cancel Twitch because of this upset.
But not soooo fast. Twitch was beautiful to watch and fans really enjoyed their experience. In addition to it being a new and fresh way to view battle rap content, another reason no one should check out is because the tournament has even better battles coming up in their other regions. The judging was off, but King of The Dot has vowed to address the issues on Monday, September 21 on Twitch.
Hey guys, gonna be addressing everything from the 1st round of the Grand Prix on the look back show tomorrow live on https://t.co/tnjLS7wVWd
Judging is a hot topic that WILL be addressed.
Hope y’all join us as well be answering questions directly from the chat.
With the over 10,000 viewers tuning in on their premiere showing, KOTD has a respectable re-entry into the space and is set to return next week Sunday with the Southern region featuring The OG Drect as the host. This lineup is likely to be the most exhilarating card of the tournament.
Mr. Three of Them Things, Chef Trez, goes up against a dangerous Lotta Zay. While Houston’s Scotty throws down against So Severe. The Oscar-nominated Ooops will see if he is really superman as he battles Clone. And to round out the night, Brixx and Hays The Family Man (formerly Syahboy) will go head to head.
Thank you to the 10,000 + that tuned in to the live stream tonight. Next week, we’re back at it‼️
Summer Madness X may have been the best card of the year.
In fact, the talent put on with such professionalism, viewers forgot that the headline act was supposed to be the highly anticipated grudge match Murda Mook and Brizz Rawsteen. This may have been the best Summer Madness ever (better than even SM2), with five chess rattling battles (a couple of classics).
The first battle was for the Ultimate Madness 2 grand prize of $25,000, featuring Loud Brothers Holmzie the God and Bill Collector.
This battle was an example of hunger beating creativity. Bill Collector will go down in history as the most successful dude from his crew, the battle emcee outside of Cassidy and Meek Mill who stands as the most recognized and competitive from the Philadelphia area and the inventor of the super-duper scope.
While having UM2 as another title on his mantle would have been nice, his brother Holmzie the God gets that honor and the cash. Both came to the table fighting in memory of two of their beloveds, they showed the community that when integrity and good sportsmanship leads the charge — no one actually loses — and the culture wins.
Originally scheduled to go down on NOME X, but delayed because the Bullpen leader was sick with the coronavirus, Ill Will vs. John John da Don made those angry about the wait very happy. It is difficult to put Da Don into a box.
As an entertainer he is a tactician; brilliantly he knows how to include just enough “funny,” just enough “real talk,” just enough “grown man business” and just enough “little man-ing” in his rounds to ordinarily conquer anyone that stands before him: Hollow Da Don, Jakk Boy, Big T, etc. He brought that s##t that we love about him to the SMX stage.
But against Ill Will, the 6 ft plus-er did not tower over the competition as he has done in the past. Instead, he had to fight. Ill Will did not come to play —and with an uncompromising level of tenacity gave him the gentleman’s 30 over the PG Killer. The winner of the URL’s UFF 2 tournament, went into the competition as the underdog.
Traditionally scruffy and uncivilized as a battler, fans assumed that the more polished and definitely URL friendly JJDD would snatch the victory. But SMX, showed a lyrical athlete fit physically for the fight, who not only came to rap but came to remind people of why he is just so damn ill. GREAT BATTLE!!!!
The return of Charlie Clips to the URL stage was better than fans could have imagined.
Set up against THE NUMBER ONE battle rapper in the culture, Geechi Gotti, the contest was not only generational but for regional bragging rights. Charlie came with the Harlem legacy on his back, relying on the tools that have made him a consistent candidate in the Mount Rushmore conversation.
And Geechi came with the shark-like hunger, gangster intensity that has allowed him to sever through emcee after emcee. And like most battles, he was tearing flesh with razor-like punches. But this was a dogfight … a dogfight won by experience. Clips came with an arsenal of off the domes that made the difference to the viewers’ experience. By no means can it be said that this was a blowout, but it was a dramatic display demonstrating how battle rap is a full body (mind-twisting, gut-wrenching, and hair follicle raising) engagement and the older vet came in and mesmerized the crowd with a performance that simply wowed.
No one expected Reed Dollaz to beat Rum Nitty. Often counting the Philly native out, calling his style dated and archaic, he showed up to this battle with the sole intention of changing the minds of every doubter. Rum Nitty was even shocked.
While the EFB founder said that he respected the pen and legacy of his opponent, he may have slept on his ability to pull out a performance that would take him off the battle rap legends’ shelf and place him on par with those kings like Rum Nitty, who are basically the toll bridges to URL’s current limelight.
Let’s never get it twisted, Rum Nitty is Rum Nitty; one of the most ferocious pens across rap categories (the includes commercial Hip-Hop), but SMX was a night of the underdog, and gave us a glimpse of the RD of 2005 with the outfitting that has made him a monster in 2020.
Calicoe and Aye Verb exchange was the showdown of two Midwest titans. If the Island God is Muhammad Ali, the Detroit slick-talker emerged as his Joe Frazier —two prize contenders fighting each other with the intensity that is only bred from being familiar with your opponent. Street talk at its finest, Aye Verb’s lyricism can’t ever seem to be matched.
Gutter rhyming at its most perfected, Calicoe plays with battle rap-like an alley cat swatting a dead mouse up and down the street. While the two may have a chip on their shoulders because their region has been dismissed and looked over for years, their performance on September 19th (on a free world-wide platform) etched in the psyche of all that were watching that the Midwest breeds lyrical killers.
A stellar battle which was years in the making, debatable and mostly likely a preference contest, the rewatch value alone makes this a classic battle that will be a blueprint for such rivalry in the culture from now on.
I was 12 when I found out sandwich bags was for sandwiches … – @TheReal_Calicoe
“They expect me to leave stains on the surface, my name came with a purpose, you could never be to me who you claim in your verses, cause you was lame when we first met.” –@therealayeverb 🔥
The most debatable battle of the night was the B-Dot versus T-Top. The winner would be determined by your preference, as two of the best anglers went head to head with varying approaches. B-Dot, the Pan-African and Black Consciousness repping Gang Banger, talked to Top in a way that few people have been courageous enough to do. His most powerful angle lifted how he believes that Top does not protect Black women nor honors them, questioning what kind of man will his daughter look to when his father doesn’t respect women.
Top also attacked Dot’s character, unpacking the hypocrisy of being a gang banger and someone pushing the Blackness as a movement. One angle that was effective that he took was that he became super conscious after losing his scholarship given by the “white man.” The way they went at it, you would think that neither one of them was worth the cotton they were dressed in — but that shows you just how amazing these lyricists are. Can’t call this one at all and like the Cal and Verb battle will be watched over and over and over again. Shout out to B-Dot for having two battles that are contenders for the battle of the year!
1. B-Dot vs T-Top (5/5) 2. JJDD vs ILL Will (4/5) 3. Verb vs Calicoe (4/5) 4. Nitty vs Reed Dollaz (4/5) 5. Clips vs Geechi Gotti (3/5) 6. Chess vs K-Shine (3/5) 7. Bill Collector vs Holmzie Da God (2/5)
Why is K-Shine so damn good? WHYYYYYYY! No one ever expects K-Shine to lose, but indeed they never know just how great and amazing he will be when he steps out on the stage. Geechi Gotti and Ill Will have alternated as the top two battlers in the culture, but the reality is that no one should not be able to have that conversation without including K-Shine.
The three create the holy trinity of modern battling. The EFB Compton Crip, the ‘Yac Town Homi Member, and NWX’s Harlem Punisher have all painted the culture with exciting battles for at least three years and their appearances on this card continued to add color and texture to the culture’s portrait of a champion. So … against Chess … a good Chess … a Chess that was 95% without stumble or flaw … K-Shine had the pressure of not letting this hungry monster take his plate and knock him off his dīn.
And without question Shine shined.
Rhyme after rhyme. Punch after hard-hitting punch. Spazz-out after spazz-out after entertaining spazz-out, Professor Shine lectured Chess about his potential and how important focus has to be in his path to longevity. He would know. It was not until he got focused that he became god-tier (yup … finally said it!). But this was not a Chess unreceptive to the lecture that was given by John John, Lux and so many more.
The Cake Lyfe leader and Cave Gang rebel was passionate, lyrical and genius in his approach. He brought the fire that makes him that guy to be feared. He was scary on that Sesame Street styled set, with rhymes that were way more intricate than a graduate-level physics class. The match up gave us more than a glimpse of his greatness but showered the viewers with a waterfall of how f**king bananas this kid is right now at 21. Great battle, but Shine edged a Gentleman’s 30 from this Bronx bomber.
(AllHipHop News) FXXXXY, a rapper and producer known for his work with Future, has died at the age of 25.
The death of the musician, who worked on the track “Solitaires” from the rapper’s recent record High Off Life, was announced by his family and representatives of his label, Interscope Geffen A&M Records (IGA) on Wednesday (September 23rd).
An IGA spokesperson said that FXXXXY, real name Maudell Watkins died of complications from a routine medical procedure.
A date of death has not been given.
In their statement, his family said: “The family of Maudell Watkins, aka FXXXXY, aka FBG Fox, are totally shocked and devastated at his unexpected and unforeseen passing.
“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to his many friends and acquaintances who’ve reached out to us in this extremely difficult time. He lived music with every breath he took and his focus and drive were unmatched. May his contributions to the music industry live forever.”
The rapper first emerged as a rising star of the Dallas, Texas rap scene with his 2016 Cartel Shawty EP, and the follow-up, Flawed Up Shawty EP.
His association with Future began in 2019, and he worked as an engineer on several tracks in addition to “Solitaires,” including Government Official from the 2019 album SAVE ME, as well as co-producing the song “Extra.”
Although details of his date of death have yet to be released, fellow rapper Baby Shad posted a tribute to him on Twitter on September 17th.
(AllHipHop News) Atlanta rapper Future, whose real name is Nayvadius Cash, is known not only for his music but also for his signature style choices. This summer, after riding the wave of his hit album High Off Life, he took his love for fashion and combined it will the success of the Billboard-charting project.
“Life Is A High” is the Haitian American’s new clothing line that mixes smiles faces with vibey designs that seem more Woodstock than Kirkwood. In a very short time, the collection of streetwear has gained some popularity — even outside of his traditional fanbase— getting promoted on the high fashion editorial site, Women’s Wear Daily (WWD). Considered the “bible of fashion,” for “Life Is A High” to receive validation from such an esteemed fashion trade where major advertising agencies, socialites, and influencers clock their favorite brands is a huge thing. But when has Future done anything that is not huge?
Future’s clothing line “Life Is A High.” Images by FreeBandz, LLC.
Future’s clothing line “Life Is A High.” Images by FreeBandz, LLC.
Future’s clothing line “Life Is A High.” Images by FreeBandz, LLC.
Future’s clothing line “Life Is A High.” Images by FreeBandz, LLC.
Future’s clothing line “Life Is A High.” Images by FreeBandz, LLC.
“Life is good… It’s a blessing to wake up another day and have the chance to better yourself it’s easy to forget that with all the madness happening in the world,” He shares. “I want this collection to remind us we can still be high off life. The colors, the fabrics, the artwork all represent this concept with comfort.”
Now the line is available online, and within hours of its launch, articles are already sold out. And extension from his other company Freebandz, LLC, this all-American made unisex collection can be found at here. Cop quickly before all of his hot sweatshirts and bottoms are all sold out… and from the looks of things that will be in the near future!
(AllHipHop Features) Life in the United States is begining to feel like a really catastrophic, dystopian reality show and, as the presidential election looms, the finale approaches. But 2o2o is not a bad season of “Survivor.” Joe Biden and Donald Trump are merely the tip of the iceberg as a myriad of matters press down on the America public. For Black America, the crushing weight can feel like being at the bottom of the ocean. Lives lost. Injustice. Murder. Gross inequities. Covid-19. 2020.
Regardless, the presidential election and all that comes with it, seems to be the start of something, depending on what issues are of value to the person casting a vote. Jermaine Dupri, the near-omniscient music/tv/entertainment mogul, will be voting this November, leaning sharply in Joe Biden’s direction. Neither nominee has an easy battle ahead nor are Black people on one accord.
Dupri, Ice Cube and Kanye West represent how divergent the so-called Black community is, in thought, deed, ideologies and sometimes duplicitous motivations. And the stakes are high enough to catch a contact. AllHipHop’s Chuck Creekmur spoke to Jermaine Dupri and the Atlanta ambassador delves into the complexity of it all.
Jermaine Dupri: There are a lot of conversations going on. There are a lot of conversations going on. With this election, it’s important to highlight it’s not being ignored. It’s important to highlight the minio-conversations being discussed amongst the people, amongst Black people. Black men, everything.
AllHipHop: Do you think there’s a misconception that a lot of people are not being heard by Joe Biden? Or maybe they don’t quite believe feel like they are being heard?
100%. In the old ways, they don’t always share that they are being heard so you are left yo believe you aren’t. The selection is the one where all of that should change.
We got a lot of undercover Black people that voted for Trump. We got a lot of Black people that don’t wanna vote. Period. People that don’t like either one of the candidates. Those two issues are just as big as anything else. A lot of that comes from Trump’s angle to get in office. Trump would go at people the way Hillary Clinton would not go at people. He was going at people the way Obama and Biden would not go at people. That’s what won people over, so I feel like that same energy has to go in this election. Everything has to be discussed and things have to be talked about. And things that are happening in the streets, it’s a must that people feel like they are being heard.
I feel like the reason Kanye wants to run [for president] and the reason Kanye supports Donald Trump is another issue that has not been addressed enough for people to understand what’s going on. People just think Kanye is crazy. Right? Meanwhile, I know other Black Republicans that speak the same language Kanye speaks.
It’s really a knowledge game. People have to read and people have to get in front of other people that are speaking, and listen. Kanye has been told why he has to be a Republican. He’s been told to be a Republican because of his money. Because of the money he makes and other Black Republicans that I know they speak the same language. They speak the exact same language. The average Black person on the street that doesn’t read, and doesn’t have friends that are Republican, they just look at it like “Oh Kanye, you’re crazy. This guy is crazy. Why are you voting for him?” They make it a Black and white thing. Politics is not black and white. It’s not black and white! Donald Trump was a Democrat. We are so quick to make it into that, like “Kanye, you’re not for the Black people.”
Then that goes into what Ice Cube is saying. “Black people shouldn’t assume the Black people are just going to vote for them.” It’s not a black or white thing. It shouldn’t even be addressed like that.
(AllHipHop News) It seems as though the divorce case of Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and soon-to-be ex-wife Nicole Young is just getting uglier by the moment.
And now accusations of embezzlement and fraud fly over a company that the two own.
According to TMZ, the Record One recording studio has sent a letter to Mrs. Young’s attorneys questioning where did all the money go?
Record One was founded in 2015 by three parties: the Youngs and Larry Chatman. Nicole is listed as a trustee and signatory on the LLC’s checking account.
The studio alleges that the money has been zapped and that Nicole siphoned the money with a recent withdrawal of $353,571.85.
The attorney for the business, Ed McPherson, sent the letter and a copy of a check from Nicole (written in her handwriting).
In the letter, McPherson states that there was “blatant and unjustifiable criminal embezzlement of corporate funds,” perpetrated by Nicole which in essence breached her fiduciary duties.
Dr. Dre and his partner want all of the money to be returned immediately.
Nicole’s people are firing back calling this a PR stunt.
“This is just a low-grade PR stunt by Andre and his team to try to change the fact that he was caught red-handed and sued for trying to cheat Nicole out of community property to which she is entitled,” her lawyer Bryan Freedman told TMZ. “There is no question that Nicole had both the contractual and the legal right to have taken this action and Andre’s team is well aware of this fact. Any suggestion she did something untoward is preposterous and pathetic.”
(AllHipHop News) Columbia Records is collaborating with the National Urban League civil rights organization to present Community Concert & Conversation. The platform was created to advocate for the economic and social justice of Black Americans and other minorities as well as to raise awareness of how COVID-19 continues to impact those communities.
Yvonne Orji will serve as host for the live-streamed event. The Emmy-nominated actress (Insecure) will be joined by “Hot in Herre” hitmaker Nelly, 2020 XXL Freshman Class member 24kGoldn, 19-year-old rapper StaySolidRocky, Bronx singer-songwriter Rileyy Lanez, Hijack EP creator Cochise, and more.
“Columbia Records is a family – from our colleagues, to our artists, and their families. We are continuously striving for peace, harmony, and equality across our endeavors as music plays an extraordinary role in healing and bringing people together,” says Jennifer Frommer, Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships at Columbia Records.
Frommer continues, “We devised Community Concert & Conversation to not only elicit thoughtful and helpful conversation surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on the African-American community, but to lean into Columbia Record’s legacy in supporting social change through music. We are grateful to our partners, The National Urban League and VISA for their brave support and vision.”
Community Concert & Conversation is scheduled to stream on Columbia Records’ YouTube page on September 25 at 8:30 pm ET. Viewers will be prompted to donate to the National Urban League. In June, Visa announced a $10 million investment in a Visa Black Scholars and Jobs Program. The company also double matched employees’ donations, up to $1 million, to racial justice organizations including the National Urban League.
“Artists, particularly musical artists, have played a vital role in shaping social justice and civil rights since our nation’s founding,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “We’re honored to join Sony and Columbia Records in upholding this distinguished legacy, and grateful to Visa for its ongoing support. We look forward to a dynamic and productive dialogue.”
